Police denied the MDP's claim that a person hospitalised during Tuesday night's protest was injured due to the use of a taser. No force was used in controlling the demonstration and the actions of officers had no connection to the individual's condition, police said, urging the public to verify information before sharing it and warning that misinformation erodes public trust in institutions.
An opposition-sponsored bill to prohibit tourism sector employers from converting service charge into Maldivian Rufiyaa before distribution to staff was accepted with bipartisan support. The amendment would require that employees receive the payment in the same currency it was collected. The changes proposed by MP Maufroof Zakir, who also chairs the Maldives Trade Union Congress, seek to address a longstanding grievance that some resorts collect service charge in dollars but pay workers in Rufiyaa. He also proposed that temporary and third-party contract workers in tourism receive equal service charge entitlements. The bill was sent to committee with 67 votes in favour with the support of the ruling PNC's supermajority in the 93-member house. Majority Leader Falah said changes will be made based on consultations with both resort workers and owners.
State Trading Organisation reported a 17 percent increase in gross profit to MVR 785 million (US$ 50.9 million) for the first quarter of 2026, driven by higher global oil prices and a 27 percent rise in fuel sales volumes including bunkering. Net profit after tax was MVR 276 million, up 13 percent on the previous quarter. Total revenue reached MVR 5.5 billion.
All cross-border transactions on BML Rufiyaa debit cards incur fees through a markup known as the "optional issuer fee," which has been in place for roughly 15 years, Mihaaru reported in a detailed explainer on how international card payments work. It came after BML denied social media claims that it was secretly imposing the 30 percent fee across all foreign transactions. According to BML, the effective markup is under five percent for most transactions such as travel bookings, subscriptions and education payments, while other online purchases are charged up to 10 percent. A 30 percent rate applies only to six e-commerce platforms – Temu, Shein, Alibaba, AliExpress, Lazada and eBay – introduced last July to curb the use of personal cards for commercial imports. BML said it spends US$ 45 million a month facilitating foreign card purchases, of which around US$ 11 million goes to the six platforms alone.
MDP announced its chairperson election will be held on June 12, with a 10-day window to submit candidacies. The deadline to register as a member to be eligible to vote was midnight on Wednesday, prompting an eleventh-hour recruitment drive from supporters of former President Mohamed Nasheed, who is contesting against MP Meekail Naseem. Former MP Alhan Fahmy has also indicated he will run. Former chairman Fayyaz Ismail, who is aligned with Nasheed against former President Solih's faction of the fractured main opposition party, criticised the short notice for the registration as a lost opportunity to boost membership.
Hussein Shafeeq was appointed as the new managing director and CEO of Maldives Ports Limited, making him the third MD under the current government. Shafeeq, brother of Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafiu and the first captain of MTCC's dredger Mahajarraafu, replaces Mohamed Rishwan, who was among several SOE bosses removed shortly after the April 4 election results.
Dr Mohamed Faisal, who served as secretary general of the National Pay Commission since 2018, resigned from his position. No reason was provided for his departure.
The Criminal Court sentenced Mohamed Nizam of Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo to life imprisonment for the murder of Bangladeshi national Mohamed Liton, whose body was never recovered. Nizam and Liton went missing together on a fuel boat in December 2022. The vessel was found abandoned near the airport the next day and Nizam was later tracked down in Malé through a social media tip. The court found that Nizam killed Liton by throwing him overboard, abusing his trust, and sentenced him to the maximum penalty, though 21 years and 10 months remain after deducting time served. Life imprisonment carries a 25-year term under Maldivian law. He was also handed a one-year sentence for theft of MVR 51,000 from the vessel.
National airline Maldivian signed a partnership with Sri Lankan Airlines to offer connecting flights through Colombo, giving international passengers access to 17 domestic destinations beyond Malé and Maldivian travellers smoother connections to Sri Lankan Airlines' global network.
The education ministry warned the public about an unregistered institution called "SAS Medical College" that is advertising student recruitment in the Maldives. Operating or advertising as a university, college, or institute without registration is a criminal offence under the Higher Education Act. The college's website advertises MBBS degrees that can be completed in as little as three to five years and features what appears to be an AI-generated photo of its premises with no identifiable location.
The sports ministry appointed Mauroof Ahmed as special advisor to the minister, focused on decentralising sports development. Mauroof holds postgraduate diplomas in sports marketing and previously served in various roles at the Football Association of Maldives and as managing director of the Sports Corporation, the ministry noted.
The Anti-Corruption Commission unveiled a five-year roadmap covering governance reform, institutional strengthening, national integrity, SOE and procurement oversight, and tackling political corruption. Key priorities include ensuring fair elections, transparent hiring practices, strengthening investigation and prosecution procedures, and identifying high-risk corruption areas within state-owned enterprises. The plan also includes expanding anti-corruption education through the Maldives Anti-Corruption Academy.
Islamic Minister Dr Shaheem told parliament the government has reduced the practice of granting companies priority Hajj slots as prizes or employee perks, calling it unfair to those waiting in the official queue. He urged those wishing to go sooner to pay into the queue early. Separately, Shaheem announced the ministry is drafting a dedicated Hajj and Umrah law to address the recurring problem of groups collecting money from pilgrims and failing to deliver services. The proposed law would establish legal penalties for negligent operators and clearly define the roles of both the Hajj Corporation and private companies, he said.
